The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers: Four Trades Bryan Colangelo May Make

By Josh Wilson

Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 9, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; The Philadelphia 76ers logo on the warm up shirt of center Jahlil Okafor (not pictured) prior to action against the Chicago Bulls at Wells Fargo Center. The Bulls won 111-88. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of a Spalding basketball with the signature of NBA commissioner Adam Silver (not pictured) at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of a Spalding basketball with the signature of NBA commissioner Adam Silver (not pictured) at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

First, let’s discuss the details of trades that could occur. Under normal trade rules, most NBA teams are quite limited. The way many teams operate under the salary cap rules is that when a trade is conducted, typically the scales have to be equal on each side.

For instance, a team on one side can not acquire a player worth $10 million a year and give up a salary worth just $1 million.

This holds true for teams at the salary cap or teams exceeding it. Most teams are in one of these two scenarios because it is the most efficient way to build a winning team. It would be nearly impossible to build a competitive team while staying significantly under the salary cap.

For the Sixers, though, they are in a different scenario. Since the Sixers are significantly under the salary cap for next season, they do not have to give up an equivalent salary in return. This means that they can pretty much trade for any single player out there, since they are $70 million under the salary cap for next season.

Just because the Sixers don’t have to cover a similar salary does not mean that teams will just give up their players, though. So, what do the Sixers have to offer, given that they don’t have many players of significant worth to most NBA teams?

  • Three first round draft picks this year — top overall, 24th, and 26th
  • Nerlens Noel and Jahlil Okafor (one of them is bound to move once Joel Embiid is deemed healthy enough to give one up)
  • The rights to several overseas players
  • Several future draft picks

For most trade scenarios that involve the Sixers receiving an even slightly impactful player in return, the Sixers are probably going to have to pick two of those above bullets at least to make it a reality. Many teams won’t give up their solid players without another solid player in return, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Sixers trade Jah or Nerlens this offseason.

At the same time, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see them keep both until they know the true status of Joel Embiid.

I’m not a believer in the seemingly made-up report that Bryan Colangelo is looking to trade one of the Sixers’ two top five overall picks if they happen to get two, but I also wouldn’t be entirely surprised if it happened.

Next: Danilo Gallinari